Pain Profile Generation via Electrical Stimulation and Optical Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing pain levels in subjects, such as humans or animals, are unreliable due to varying responses to similar pain levels, making it difficult to compare or quantify pain, especially in non-communicative individuals.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing electrical stimulating signals with varying parameters to cause optically detectable changes in biological samples, which are measured using optical devices to generate a pain profile, allowing for a more reliable assessment of pain levels by correlating signal power with pain responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrical stimulating signals with varying parameters are used to stimulate a biological sample, then a pain profile can be generated with quantifiable pain levels, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple electrical signals and optical measurement systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electrical stimulation and optical measurement systems into a unified apparatus. The electrical stimulating signals and optical detection devices work together to generate pain profiles, merging two different measurement approaches into a single integrated system that quantifies pain levels objectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical detection as an intermediary between electrical stimulation and pain assessment. The optical devices detect changes in the biological sample caused by electrical stimulation, providing an indirect but quantifiable measure of pain levels that bridges the gap between stimulus application and pain evaluation.
2Reliability
If optical devices are used to detect optically detectable changes in the biological sample, then objective pain measurement is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase for ensuring accurate and reproducible optical measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the optical detection system continuously monitors changes in the biological sample in response to electrical stimulation. This feedback loop allows for real-time adjustment and calibration of the measurement system, ensuring reliable and reproducible pain level quantification while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a specific and reliable pain profile generation for each subject, allowing for accurate pain level assessment and monitoring, even in non-verbal subjects, by correlating electrical stimulation parameters with optically detectable changes, providing a more objective measure than self-reporting.
Implementation Method 1
enabling stimulation of a biological sample using a plurality of electrical stimulating signals comprising different values for one or more parameters wherein respective electrical stimulating signals are configured to cause a respective change in the biological sample wherein the respective change is optically detectable
Implementation Method 2
The optical properties may comprise one or more of: refractive index, birefringence, fluorescence
Implementation Method 3
The optical properties may comprise one or more of: refractive index, birefringence, fluorescence
Implementation Method 4
The optical properties may comprise one or more of: refractive index, birefringence, fluorescence
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of the disclosure relate to systems and apparatus that enable a pain profile to be generated. The apparatus comprises means for enabling stimulation of a biological sample using a plurality of electrical stimulating signals. The plurality of electrical stimulating signals comprise different values for one or more parameters and respective electrical stimulating signals are configured to cause a respective change in the biological sample wherein the respective change is optically detectable. The apparatus is also configured to enable measuring of the optically detectable changes caused by the electrical stimulating signals. The optically detectable changes can be measured by using one or more optical devices to detect the optically detectable changes. The measurements obtained by the one or more optical devices and the corresponding values for the one or more parameters of the electrical stimulating signals can be used to generate a pain profile for the biological sample. The pain profile is based on the optically detectable changes caused by the stimulation.